Make safety a priority for parades

Feb. 9, 2007

No doubt some regular Mardi Gras paradegoers have been practicing their shouts of "Throw me something, Mister" and fine-tuning strategies to catch the prized beads and trinkets.

As the Krewe of Centaur prepares to roll out its 42 floats Saturday afternoon, common sense and respect for rules and regulations will help to keep spectators safe.

Next week, the fun rolls again with the Krewe of Gemini parade. Both events draw hundreds of thousands of onlookers, including a significant number of out-of-towners who keep the parades on their annual calendars.

Again, the focus is on family and fun. Lewd and offensive behavior is strictly prohibited. Adults should be kind to growing minds, so to speak, and set positive examples for the children. Helpful in this regard is the return of the no-alcohol family zone that will be located on Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway between the railroad trestle just north of Memorial Park and Stoner Avenue.

Some other do's and don'ts:

Familiarize yourself with scheduled street closures and parking restrictions. Vehicles will be towed from restricted areas.

Respect residential and business property along the route. Toss trash in designated containers.

Be aware that glass containers and bottles are not allowed along the entire route.

Dress appropriately. Nudity will not be tolerated.

Leave the pets at home.

And sure, come prepared to catch items tossed by float riders. But don't even think about throwing anything in the direction of the procession.

Again, flags and banners are not permitted along the parade route.

The Centaur parade is presented by one of the area's largest krewes, boasting about 650 members. Float riders will toss an estimated 4 million throws into the waiting hands of revelers.

The parade begins 4:30 p.m. Saturday on Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway south of Texas Street, proceeds to Shreveport-Barksdale Highway and on to East Kings Highway, ending at East Preston Avenue. The Gemini parade will follow the same route Feb. 17.

Count on a strong police presence to help maintain order. In years past, parade-related crime has been held to a minimum. We look forward to a repeat in that regard. Still, take steps to guard against the kind of victimization that can thrive in large crowds, such as pick-pocketing and purse-snatching. Leave the valuables at home.